For this, the 9th issue, l’Acharnœur will pay homage to the festivals that start the year off. They are less celebrated than those that fall in December, but are nevertheless on opportunity to get together. Also in number nine, l’Acharnœur continues to share its explorations. Next issue is out on February 20th.

KEEP THE MASK

February means carnivals. From Venice to Rio via Nice or Dunkirk. Such madness ! And such mystery… All those people who, hidden behind masks or in costume, lighten up a little, mingle with strangers, blend in with the crowd while standing out at the same time… This said, we could all do with the same dose of extravagance if only we hadn’t totally forgotten our own «Mardi Gras»! A few years ago, a few brave souls still dared to walk around in unusual dress to the great amusement of passers-by. But today it seems that Mardi Gras has put on its everyday clothes to blend in with all the other Tuesdays.

Nevertheless, one only needs to look at the raging success of «theme» or fancy dress parties and the indelibly euphoric memories they leave to admit that we do like to dress up. We love to «let go», thankfully ! Wearing a costume gives us a chance to take on a new identity, to try something we usually avoid due to shyness, principles or stature. It is a magnificent outlet. As for the carnival, it has always been a planned moment where letting it all out and breaking the rules is possible making the more austere periods more palatable. This is the very origin of Mardi Gras : the last party before the forty lean days of Lent !

Is it its religious origins that caused its disappearance ? After all, we live in a secular country. But this doesn’t seem to stop us eating chocolate eggs at Easter – the result of Lent also-, from taking the day off on August 15th and from getting gifts at Christmas. We don’t ignore all those chances to party… So what’s going on ? The way things can get out of hand at this type of celebration ? True. But that shouldn’t be a punishment as today, celebrations of all sorts get out of hand. Whatever the reason, we continue to ignore Mardi Gras, and instead prefer relatively ineffective substitutes like Halloween.

It’s a real pity because we all deserve a Mardi Gras. We have been fasting for many months now. Not for Lent but because of the economic crisis and it hasn’t lasted just forty days. On February 12th, maybe we should all take a break.

Marie Veyrier

• A break? L’Acharnœur invites you to celebrate Mardi Gras on February 12th at the bar/restaurant «la Piscine Saint-Louis», 2 rue Juliette Dodu, 75010 Paris, from 18h. L’Acharnœur offers masks. Other disguises are more than welcome…

BLACKOUT

To begin with the intentions were good: cutting down on energy consumption to fight climate change, and by the same token, reducing our electricity bills. A win-win! So, since the start of 2013, according to the European Union’s calendar, shops have definitively stopped selling the old energy-eating bulbs in favour of the more ecological option.

The problem is that in fact, the reality is different. There are different types of bulb with three different technologies: halogens, compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED. There is no room for mistakes. You will find yourself with the wrong type of connection, a delay before the light comes on or a hospital-style ambience. A degree in engineering is required when buying a light bulb these days!

OTT? Well, not a lot of people are aware of this but a bulb must now be chosen according to use and location. A bulb that is regularly switched on and off like in the toilet? Avoid the compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs or you will only really have enough light by the time you are flushing. What about a lamp that remains lit for a long period? Not always! Because of magnetic fields, they shouldn’t be used near your head. So no bedside lamps then. And to make things even more complicated, they can’t just be disposed of any old way due to the mercury they contain. How ecological.

Halogens? It’s funny; we always thought they used too much electricity. But apparently we were misinformed. Poor us. However, let’s all rush to do a u-turn on that one! The only ones left are the LED bulbs. Unfortunately, they are still really expensive… And their blue component is already in legal hot water as it has an adverse effect on the eyes…

It all seems to be piling up and that’s not all! These new bulbs are prohibitively priced for a life-span that rarely fulfils its promise, especially in a society where the electric installations still haven’t been modernised. This means that some people’s « bulb » budget has gone through the roof.

Well. Is it possible that things have gone a little too fast? Are we not just guinea-pigs testing the well-meaning actions of our European bureaucrats? Someone should throw a little light on the subject.

HUMOUR CODE

Finally, we have proof that it is not true that happy people have no story to tell.

We’ve only just learned of the existence of a 127 year-old Chinese woman! She was born in 1885 in the Barna valley in Southern China, an area that boasts hundreds of centenarians…When she is asked for the secret to her longevity, she answers without hesitation: «Good humour». Years of being happy and smiling despite burying her five children and the ill-health of her great-great-great grandson…

Good humour ? Our prose poet Christian Bobin who has just published «L’homme-joie» referes to it also as «l'humeur bonne» (the humour good) and lists it as an essential ingredient in the antidote to everything that poisons our daily lives. In his stride, he gives some very simple examples of those moments where it takes so little – a face, an overheard word, a sentence in a book, «a daisy in a field» - for us to breathe easier.

Soppy ? The naysayers can always say that «le bonheur écrit blanc» (happiness writes in white) on paper, white on white that makes it unreadable, thus hard to capture.What about on a black background ? Like the snow on the sidewalk that brings happiness back and puts smiles on our workaday faces, if only for a few furtive minutes ?Furtive minutes that add up, by the way, to 127 years.

KISS

At the mention of «Pretty Woman», the first thing that comes to mind is the Roy Orbinson tune that you immediately start humming. Next comes the vision of Julia Roberts and her never-ending legs, and the equally superb, dark-eyed Richard Gere. We forgive him his inspired look each time he produces his mobile phone that must weigh 98kg! That’s not really the point…

There are a number of stand-out moments, but there is one that merits our attention: the scene of the famous first kiss, when «Vivian» decides to kiss «Edward», that crucial moment when we realise she is in love with him.

Indeed, she is a member of the world’s oldest profession and the one rule is no kissing, it’s far too intimate. Just at this key moment in the film, she reminds us that the first kiss is the founding act of any true love story. It moves us, throws us off balance us and sets us free. It is when we give in to the other person, totally, the moment when we decide to join our fates with trust and joy. It is worth more than any words, and doesn’t need any easily forgotten declarations, as long as the feeling lasts.

We all remember word for word the stories our grandmothers told us that all started; «The first time I kissed your grandfather…» Suddenly, their face lit up, the precise details of the place and the circumstances came flooding back, and if the rest remained a little blurred, it was because it was of less importance in their memory.

Finally, it is not the modern-day fairytale aspect that made «Pretty Woman» so successful, it was the strong and timeless message it carries, like all great classics; feelings are more important than sex, and they can overcome anything ! So we never get tired of watching the triumph of this love, sealed with the magic of a movie kiss. It gets us dreaming of the one waiting for us on February 14th… Whether it’s the first of many or the hundredth !

WAR GAME

Newspapers, television, cinema, toys, video games… War is omnipresent in our daily lives, but never for real. It is always linked to far away or fictional events. When shifted into an everyday space, the machines take on another scale. A series signed Léo Caillard.

DASHING DOUGHNUTS!

Be warned, «une bugne» is not the same as «des bugnes», in the singular or in the plural the meanings are totally different. If you get «une bugne» in the face, it’s hard to swallow! But if you offer «des bugnes» for mardi gras, they will be gobbled down! Une bugne, in the singular, doesn’t go down that well, but des bugnes, in the plural, are delicious little doughnuts that are traditionally eaten in February. But despite the different meanings, the story is the same, the same linguistic meaning, the same root word.

Originally, the Latin word bunia meant a tree trunk with bulges. It is easy to see the resemblance with bugnes, as the little cakes are bent like roots. This is because in the baking process, when the mixture is fresh and cut into strips to make little rectangles, a slit is cut in each piece to slip one end into the other to make a loop, like a knot. In addition, we understand the allusion to the bump that a «beigne» (a violent hit) can cause when we see the buns swelling during frying. So, no more explanation needed.

What about gastronomy ? The ingredients for this fried pastry are the same as pancakes but without the milk. Sometimes there are no eggs either. But they are always flavoured with lemon or orange water, rum or certain liqueurs. When powdered with icing sugar they are so cute, and understandably also known as «merveilles». They are made for mardi-gras (Shrove Tuesday), the last day of feasting before the gloom of Ash Wednesday. And cold meat merchants, so sorry to be facing a drop in sales of the richer products, would put these little treats out for customers to keep on their good side.

It is important to note that with or without yeast, the crunchiest bugnes are those made with the least amount of ingredients, the others are spongier.

Today, the bakers maintain the tradition in the season, but they often forget to knot the pastry, they just make a slit – so the beauties aren’t too swell !

WHAT ARE WE PLAYING AT?

First of all, let’s agree on the terms. This is a reality-doc and not just reality TV. Reality-docs are reality TV with a higher standard of content. Less entertaining, more instructive.Since 2011 in Australia, there has been a programme entitled «Go Back to Where you Came from» and France Télévisions is seriously interested.

Six people, both men and women, with differing but equally strong opinions on foreigners, are given a chance to walk in the shoes of an illegal immigrant or refugee. They go through various «trials» - holding camp, constantly moving house, police raids…- at the end of which they are asked if they have changed their minds. The producers insist that the aim of the game is to make people think, to make people realise the truth. As if the news programmes and reportage weren’t doing their jobs properly.

So, let’s play !Why not a reality-doc in which the participants are asked to experience life as a hostage ? It would be called : «We haven’t forgotten them», we’d see them in captivity, we’d follow their daily lives, witness the way they are treated by their kidnappers, the pressure, the blackmail… And, in the end we could ask them if they’ve changed their minds about hostage victims. Should the ransom be paid or not…

In the end, when they are freed, they would get to come back to Paris as stars… A bit like Florence Aubenas, Ingrid Betancourt or Florence Cassez, even though the latter was not really a hostage as such. Cassez ? When asked if she had really realised that she was out of the woods by Gilles Bouleau in his newscast, she answered: «Yes, seeing as I am on TF1!» .Right answer!

Cyrto

Cyrto is extremely shy and prefers the shadows to the light. She is an illustrator and graphic artist and is spending more and more time on her true calling: creating fantastic worlds from her own emotion, impulse and imagination. She invents but does not reinvent. She follows no trend or influence but instead takes all her inspiration from her inner self. Her uniquely artistic approach will soon be visible through her writing and directing.

CYRTO GLOVES

The whole idea comes from the glove as second skin. Cyrto creates indelible designs on gloves evoking ramifications, sketches… connections. Each piece is unique and comes only from her imagination. There are no rules, no hierarchy, the cells form every instant and grow together through paths and encounters. Her lines tell of a fantastic world that is almost invisible to the naked eye. Between tattoo art and a pseudo-botanic vision, the lines of the hand take on a new meaning.

Gloves made to order.

The approach is entirely artistic. The final piece is handed over in exchange for an envelope in which the client « gives » the amount they wish.

The Acharnœur will act as intermediary but takes no commission. For more information: avenue@acharnoeur.com

Let It Be - 63€

Created by two jewellery fans (including the ex-founder of Mercerie Moderne), Let It Be is a Parisian brand that is still quite low key. The charm lies in a collection of cheeky, sometimes ecumenical pieces but are not worn just as symbols. On the contrary: Let It Be is aimed at the liberated men or women who have decided to be themselves, instead of defining herself relative to others… Who wear Let It Be lay claim to nothing, except beauty!

THE LET IT BE SELECTIONFOR L’ACHARNŒUR

This bracelet is a key piece in the collection. It is made from soft leather and white metal, it is both chic and gothic, ultra-precious and rock and roll. The clasp dresses the wrist with a refinement and originality that attracts all women, regardless of their age or style. A stand-out piece sold exclusively on l’Acharnœur and also available without the skull.

Aline Lang - 80€

Aline Lang is a photographer and graphic artist who one day, for fun, drew a bracelet watch like a piece of film. A designer at Cartier, Omega, liked it and oriented her into watch face design. Her first watch was for the bicentenary of the French revolution. Since then she has designed over forty watches, including one for the Bibliothèque nationale. Her rare and unusual creations are born from her inspiration and are produced as limited editions.

THE ACHARNŒUR’S SELECTION

The Gallops watch. An homage to chronophotography (the decomposition of a movement by a succession of photographs) and to Muybridge’s work that in 1878, proved that the four legs of a horse leave the ground at the same time when the horse gallops. This watch was first made by a big luxury house before being edited by the Musée d’Orsay. Its leather bracelet and particularly flat face makes this version timeless.

A venir

Let It Be Men - 54€

Created by two jewellery fans (including the ex-founder of Mercerie Moderne), Let It Be is a Parisian brand that is still quite low key. The charm lies in a collection of cheeky, sometimes ecumenical pieces but are not worn just as symbols. On the contrary: Let It Be is aimed at the liberated men or women who have decided to be themselves, instead of defining herself relative to others… Who wear Let It Be lay claim to nothing, except beauty!

THE LET IT BE SELECTIONFOR L’ACHARNŒUR

This bracelet is a key piece in the collection. It is made from leather and white magnetic metal, it is both male and chic, elegant and rock and roll. Perfect alliance between sobriety and confirmed style. A stand-out piece sold exclusively on l’Acharnœur.

Gabriella de Galzain - 125€

She used to work under the name «Frénétik». Today Gabriella de Galzain is coming out of hiding and is launching her eponymous brand. She makes baroque, romantic, rock n’ roll jewellery that expresses a bohemian spirit of elegance and freedom, paying homage to the most beautiful icons. Her undeniable talent can be seen in brooches, necklaces, earrings, cuff-links… She counts many stars among her greatest fans and some of her pieces tell the most beautiful stories.

A GABRIELLA DE GALZAIN DESIGN ONLY FOR L’ACHARNŒUR

We requested an homage to the Eiffel Tower. Only for l'Acharnœur, Gabriella de Galzain came up with this timeless yet contemporary brooch. The blend of off-whites means it can be worn at all times. Pearls, chains, crystals, ceramic flowers… The codes of elegance and femininity with an essential touch of impertinence. All the audacity of the “Grand Dame” herself.

EXTREME SENSATIONS

Owning nice shoes, we know. A good lipstick, we know. Good hair ? We’re trying… Even the stars have hair issues. This is because they don’t know Opalis Paris’s hair care products and the Institut on the rue de Ponthieu.

Here, cut or colour are not the issue, care is. Just care. And only hair care. From the doorstep, the ambience and odours envelop one in an absolute luxury. It must be said that the Institut’s founder Sophie Quincerot, has a particular talent for making everything ooze refinement and hedonism.

Martine then takes over for the transformation process. And transformation is the right term. However one feels nothing but the relaxation* of neck, shoulder and scalp massages… not to mention face shiatsu. Comfortably ensconced, even lying down sometimes in their exceptional armchairs, designed so that you don’t move even slightly, whether you are having a custom-made cataplasm applied, having your hair rinsed or hydrated with ozone steam. An hour and a half minimum where you forget everything, you might even fall asleep. You come out different, so does your hair. While you feel perfectly relaxed, it looks full of life !

But, it is true that not everyone is lucky enough to live in the capital. All is not lost ! Opalis Paris has a range of amazing products available in numerous outlets in France and abroad, and especially on their website. From shampoos to "La Crème" (Star Product) to "La Loton", they adapt to our frenetic lives (no wait times for example. Finally !) and you see a result immediately. How is this possible ? Well, still thanks to the tenacity of Sophie Quincerot, who can turn the world upside down, or search the web to find the best essential oils or vegetable extracts… Your bathroom is impregnated with dizzying odours, your hair gets to enjoy practically bespoke treatments. The press has been generous with its praise and among big fans : Dita von Teese, Emmanuelle Seigner, Naomie Watts, Léa Seydoux... So if you want to get ahead, go to Opalis Paris.

* as part of the soin Suprême.

M.V.

• Coming soon, a new special offer from «Opalis Paris» in l’Avenue.• For more information: www.opalisparis.com

PONT DES ARTS - PARISMetro Louvre-Rivoli or Pont Neuf Line 1 ou 7

It’s a place where people go to seal their love! Like many other cities in the world, Paris has its Bridge where lovers come to hang a padlock as a symbol of their union. Then, they throw the key into the Seine… Of course certain heritage purists are opposed to the practice but the tradition remains incredibly romantic. It makes for a lovely stroll, whether or not it’s February 14th, whether one is Parisian or passing through, whether one is in love or alone.

WINTER WALTZ!

The winter break in France begins on February 16th. And for those heading off to ski, the packing headache begins ! It must be said that packing for a ski break constitutes an exercise in geometrical virtuosity. Or a complete pain in the neck, according to your skills ! On the one hand the ski gear, the sweaters, the polo-necks, the snow-boots. On the other, the still empty luggage. One glance is enough to see that there is a slight problem… So, add more bags ? Impossible ! In the boot or the train you are bound to come up against another Tetris-like problem if you give in.

Luckily, techniques develop over the years, thanks to advice. The first rule is stick to the minimum. Not always easy when a change of clothes is essential due to excessive perspiration through physical effort or soaked clothes due to unplanned falls. So the «going out» clothes are the first to be jettisoned. Winter breaks mean polar fleece. Anyway, stilettos in a ski resort are asking for trouble.

Next comes the precise packing order. At the bottom of the case, the bulky things like ski suits and trousers. They have the advantage of being stuffed so that the more they are squashed, the «smaller» they get. So then you stuff in as many jumpers, sweatshirts and tee-shirts as possible… Finishing up with socks, boxers and underwear that fit happily into the empty spaces. A work of art ! The debate about folding as opposed to rolling rages on. Some go for the latter that helps to fit the shape of the bag better. You just need to have time to try both methods…

Whatever happens, it won’t all fit. So the travelling outfit should include the most items possible, regardless of the weather. At least three layers on top, jacket not included. And on the feet, the bulkiest footwear ! The Michelin man look is in this season !

What about surfboards and skis ? Bravo to those brave enough to bring their own. But otherwise a big THANK YOU to the rental shops in the resorts!

DOLL'S HOUSE

My thing was building cabins in my room. Nothing fancy… A sheet between the bed and the bookcase, a few cushions and a few toys. Enough to set the scene for my stories. One day I just hid behind the curtains with all my dolls and cuddly toys to play at being the «teacher». That’s when I looked out the window. My room gave on to an inner courtyard so I could see everything that was going on in my neighbour’s homes. Bliss ! I had just discovered a giant doll’s house ! I didn’t even need to move the characters, they moved all by themselves. I only had to imagine what they were about to do… Of course not everyone lived their lives out in the open but I had enough material to be going on with ! In total innocence… I didn’t hide. My neighbours, most of whom knew me, would wave from time to time, finding my «naive voyeurism» amusing.

Then I grew up. My parents took me to see Alfred Hitchcock’s «Rear Window» in the cinema. The shock ! Not to mention the terror… I realised that observing others could be a problem. Above all, it dawned on me that, like the film’s hero, I was running the risk of seeing something horrible and becoming the prey of some nasty criminals… I left my observation post immediately.

But did I completely break the habit ? Not entirely ! When I’m dong the dishes, I can’t help but look out the window at what’s happening across the way. When I take the bus or am driving, I look up, «through the windows» of the buildings and let my mind wander at every light switched on, every movement, every decoration. A little dream sequence that helps to empty my head before I go quietly home… and pull the curtains !